1._Do we begin _It appears that this objection also was brought forward against him — that he was excessively fond of publishing his own exploits, and brought against him, too, by those who were grieved to find that the fame, which they were eagerly desirous to obtain, was effectually obstructed in... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Ye are our Epistle. _There is no little ingenuity in his making his own glory hinge upon the welfare of the Corinthians. “So long as you shall remain Christians, I shall have recommendation enough. For your faith speaks my praise, as being _the seal of my apostleship. _” (1 Corinthians 9:2.) When... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Ye are the Epistle of Christ _Pursuing the metaphor, he says that the Epistle of which he speaks was written by Christ, inasmuch as the faith of the Corinthians was his work. He says that it was _ministered _by him, as if meaning by this, that he had been in the place of ink and pen. In fine, he... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And such confidence _As it was a magnificent commendation, that Paul had pronounced to the honor of himself and his Apostleship, lest he should seem to speak of himself more confidently than was befitting, he transfers the entire glory to God, from whom he acknowledges that he has received everyt... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Not that we are competent. _(370) When he thus disclaims all merit, it is not as if he abased himself in merely pretended modesty, but instead of this, he speaks what he truly thinks. Now we see, that he leaves man nothing. For the smallest part, in a manner, of a good work is _thought_. In other... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Who hath made us competent. _(376) He had acknowledged himself to be altogether useless. Now he declares, that, by the grace of God, he has been qualified (377) for an office, for which he was previously unqualified. From this we infer its magnitude and difficulty, as it can be undertaken by no o... [ Continue Reading ]
7_But if the ministry of death. _He now sets forth the dignity of the gospel by this argument — that God conferred distinguished honor upon the law, which, nevertheless, is nothing in comparison with the gospel. The law was rendered illustrious by many miracles. Paul, however, touches here upon one... [ Continue Reading ]
10._What was rendered glorious. _This is not a correction of what goes before, but rather a confirmation; for he means that the glory of the law is extinguished when the gospel comes forth. As the moon and stars, though in themselves they are not merely luminous, but diffuse their light over the who... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Having therefore this hope. _Here he advances still farther, for he does not treat merely of the nature of the law, or of that enduring quality of which we have spoken, but also of its abuse. True, indeed, this also belonged to its nature, that, being covered with a veil, it was not so manifest... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Not as Moses _Paul is not reasoning as to the intention of Moses. For as it was his office, to publish the law to his people, so, there can be no doubt that he was desirous, that its true meaning should be apprehended by all, and that he did not intentionally involve his doctrine in obscurity, b... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Their understandings were blinded. _He lays the whole blame upon them, inasmuch as it was owing to their _blindness, _that they did not make any proficiency in the doctrine of the law. He afterwards adds, _That veil remaineth even until this day. _By this he means, that that dulness of vision wa... [ Continue Reading ]
16._But when he shall have turned to the Lord. _This passage has hitherto been badly rendered, for both Greek and Latin writers have thought that the word Israel was to be understood, whereas Paul is speaking of Moses. He had said, that a _veil is upon the hearts _of the Jews, _when Moses is read_.... [ Continue Reading ]
17._The Lord is the Spirit. _This passage, also, has been misinterpreted, as if Paul had meant to say, that Christ is of a spiritual essence, for they connect it with that statement in John 4:24, _God is a Spirit_. The statement before us, however, has nothing to do with Christ’s essence, but simply... [ Continue Reading ]
18._But we all, with unveiled face_. I know not how it had come into the mind of Erasmus, to apply to ministers exclusively, what is evidently common to all believers. The word κατοπτριζεσθαι, it is true, has a double signification among the Greeks, for it sometimes means to hold out a mirror to be... [ Continue Reading ]